Aurora City Council halts effort to reconsider a data center moratorium amid Trident data center fight
Aurora City Council voted 6-5 against reconsidering an indefinite data center moratorium, preventing council members from debating the issue. The vote came amid resident opposition to the proposed 900,000-square-foot Trident data center near Aurora homes and concerns about water use. Mayor Mike Coffman said he plans to bring the moratorium motion back at a future meeting.
Aurora City Council narrowly rejected a motion to suspend its rules and reconsider a data center moratorium, with the 6-5 vote falling short of the seven votes required. The decision prevented discussion of the proposed indefinite moratorium during a meeting marked by boos and extended public comments from residents opposing the 900,000-square-foot Trident data center near homes in Aurora.
Residents and Denver City Council member Stacie Gilmore criticized the lack of regulations governing large data centers, including protections related to water use. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who previously opposed a six-month moratorium, said the Trident proposal changed his position because he does not want additional applications submitted before stronger regulations can be adopted. Coffman said he will reintroduce the same moratorium motion at the next regular council meeting.